This might be if not my favourite werewolf movie is right up there on a very short list. Joe Dante after scaring audiences in going into the water (much like Steven Spielberg before him) with PIRANHA he was given the chance to direct a werewolf movie. Based on a novel by Gary Brandner, which I have read and I must say the film is (and this is rare) way better than the book. Screenwriter John Sayles (who also has a cameo in this film) was brought in to rewrite a script by Terence H. Winkless. What he did was add wonderful humour, characters and nods to horror that werewolf fans should enjoy.
Dee Wallace plays Karen White, who is a news reporter. Wallace I think does a great job in the role and is really able to effectively play the character she is portraying. She is on the trail of an LA serial killer called Eddie Quist (super creepy and dark portrayal by Robert Picardo). She is almost killed by Quist, so her shrink Dr. George Waggner (Patrick Macnee) suggests she go to a retreat where he sends some of his patients for treatment. So, Karen along with her husband (played by her real-life hubby Christopher Stone in a great performance) to the retreat. Problem is this is where the Quist family lives along with a gang of werewolves.
I really do think this early 80s horror flick is wonderfully lit, excellent use of fog and also has some awesome music from Italian composer Pino Donaggio.
1981 was the year of the werewolf movie as John Landis' AN AMERICAN WEREWOLF IN LONDON (which is generally held in an even higher regard by most) and WOLFEN came out that same year. Rob Bottin did the effects for this movie and I think only 21 at the time shows how marvellous he was at creating special effects as this was I think the very first on-screen transformation into a werewolf in film history. Now some of the effects in the film have not aged the best, but some stand wonderfully as they did when the film was first released.
There are also some cameos in the film such as Dante's old boss Roger Corman, Famous Monster magazine founder Forrest J. Ackerman and future horror director Mick Garris. Also has quite a great cast including Dennis Dugan, Kevin McCarthy, John Carradine and Slim Pickens to name a few.
So, if you are a werewolf fan, enjoy some humour mixed in with your horror and like the old ways horror flicks were made with effects I would highly suggest watching this film. Sadly, followed by an endless parade of bad sequels.
